Rapper Documentary Opens Tribeca Festival

Watch a clip from the film "Time Is Illmatic," a documentary about rapper Nas's 1994 album "Illmatic" which will open the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival on April 16. (Photo/Video: Illa Films)

By

Jennifer Weiss

Updated Feb. 19, 2014 11:45 p.m. ET

ENLARGE

Nas, in Los Angeles last month, is the subject of 'Time Is Illmatic.'
WireImage

"Time Is Illmatic," a new documentary about the rapper Nas and his 1994 debut album "Illmatic," opens this year's Tribeca Film Festival, the festival said Wednesday.

Nas, a New York native, "was really able to take all that he had, all that was going on in New York at that time, and give it real poetry," said
Jane Rosenthal,
the festival's co-founder and chief executive. "You look at his beginnings and his impact on the culture of music, of art, of fashion, of the city —it's a great way to open the festival."

"Time Is Illmatic's" April 16 world premiere, followed by a performance by Nas, kicks off the festival, which runs to April 27. The festival will share the rest of its lineup in March, Ms. Rosenthal said.

The Tribeca Film Festival has opened with music documentaries in the past. Last year it began with "Mistaken for Strangers," which followed the 2010 tour of Brooklyn indie rockers the National, and 2011's opening film, "The Union," centered on the collaboration between
Elton John
and
Leon Russell.
Both were followed by performances.

ENLARGE

This image released by the Tribeca Film Festival shows Nas in a scene from the documentary, 'Time is Illmatic.'
Associated Press

"Time Is Illmatic," a debut film written by
Erik Parker
and directed by the multimedia artist One9, began 10 years ago with an interview of Nas's father, the musician
Olu Dara.
It explores Nas's relationship with his family, friends and community, Mr. Parker said. "We draw a picture of his life and the trajectory that he took."

Both men said the influential album and the social themes it explores remain relevant 20 years later.

"We wanted to look at 'Illmatic,' an album we both really related to growing up," said One9. "We wanted to tell the story of the bigger socioeconomic issues that created the back story for that album."

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